BREAKING: Agrofood Nigeria 2025: Landmark Event Showcasing Global Agricultural Innovation
The 10th edition of Nigeria Agrofood and Plastprintpack kicked off at the Landmark Centre on Tuesday, bringing together global and local stakeholders in the agricultural, food processing, plastics, printing, and packaging industries. The event runs from March 25th to 27th. On its first day, it featured keynote speeches, exhibitions, and networking opportunities, reinforcing Nigeria’s potential as a major player in global agribusiness and packaging solutions.
Upon arrival, attendees were greeted with a structured registration process—each individual scanned a QR code to generate a barcode, which allowed them to receive an entry tag. They were also handed brochures containing a show guide with event details and a conference program mapping out pavilions and exhibition areas.
Stepping into the main exhibition hall, guests were met with an impressive array of pavilions, each showcasing products ranging from small-scale agricultural equipment to large industrial machinery and food processing technologies. The event space was divided into two main halls: Hall 1 hosted the conference sessions, while Hall 2 housed the Netherlands Pavilion, one of the event’s standout exhibits.
The conference officially began at 11 a.m. with a welcome address from the President of the Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa, Alexander Isong.
One of the event’s most anticipated speeches came from Michel Deelen, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who emphasised the importance of Dutch-Nigerian agricultural collaboration.
He said, “Businessmen and businesswomen in the agricultural field, you are why we are here. We are pleased to be at this trade fair with the biggest Dutch pavilion we’ve ever had in this trade fair. This is the 10th year celebration of the fair and it’s actually the 7th time that we are participating and we are very pleased to do so. And all of these times, our pavilion has been bigger and bigger and bigger. That shows that there is keen interest from the Netherlands to do business with Nigeria and there is high demand from the Nigerian side to work together with us in the transferring of technology, in capacity building and in increasing yields and production in Nigeria. We are here now with the biggest pavilion we’ve ever had-15 Dutch companies.
“The Netherlands has been working in Nigeria for over a decade, supporting young entrepreneurs in Kano, Kaduna, Oyo, and Ogun states. We are here to support the Nigerian productivity in agriculture, make it more professional, making sure that Nigeria has a green revolution that it was supposed to have many years ago. Now is the time for Nigeria to start producing efficiently.”
Omolara Folasade Oguntoye, representing Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, followed with a speech on the critical importance of food security.
“We recognise that food security is not just about availability, but also accessibility and nutritional quality. Our strategy involves enhancing agricultural productivity through sustainable practices, improving market access for farmers, implementing policies that support equitable distribution of resources and getting the farm produce to the consumers in the best possible and nutritional form while reducing our produce shortages and wastages.
“This conference represents a pivotal moment in this endeavor as it brings together international experts and local stakeholders to explore solutions to the pressing agricultural and nutritional challenges we face. We invite all our international partners to join us in fostering a dialogue that transcends borders and disciplines. As we move forward, we are committed to ensuring that policies and projects are informed by the latest research and best practices from around the world.”
The German Consul General, Weert Börner, took the stage next, celebrating Germany’s status as the guest country of honour. He highlighted Germany’s long-standing partnership with Nigeria in modernising agriculture and tackling food insecurity.
“Germany, both government and private sector are cooperating with Nigeria on agricultural issues politically, scientifically and economically. It is about achieving food security, modernising agriculture and adapting to the unavoidable impact of climate change.
“After the difficult developments of recent years, there are huge challenges for Nigeria. The number of Nigerians living in food insecurity grew in 2024 to more than 30 million people in this country. That is around 15% of the population. However, there are signs of improvement. In 2024, Nigeria’s agricultural trade volume was by far the highest in several years. Even more important, exports surpassed imports for the first time in years. Cocoa products, sesame and cashew nuts were the front runners in exports. But also, internally, things are getting better. Experts are projecting the growth rate for the Nigerian food market of about 10% per year from 2025-2030. Nigeria’s local volume chains in agriculture are improving. I’m very grateful for the support of Germany’s federal ministry of economic affairs sponsoring again, the German pavilion at the agrofood Nigeria 2025.”
Adding to the international presence, Michal Cygan, Poland’s Ambassador-Designate, extended his country’s willingness to support Nigeria’s agricultural growth.
Cygan said, “Poland has what Nigeria needs to bridge several gaps in agricultural production. We look forward to strengthening our collaboration.”
After the keynote addresses, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, symbolising the official opening of the exhibition. Dignitaries then embarked on a guided tour of the pavilions, exploring the diverse innovations on display.
Later in the day, industry experts took to the stage for presentations on cutting-edge agricultural technologies. Among them was Anthony Osunde, Head of Sales for Krones West Africa, who detailed the company’s advancements in food packaging and processing solutions. Each presentation was followed by a Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with the speakers.
As the first day’s sessions concluded, attendees networked and exchanged ideas, setting the stage for the next two days of the event.
Speaking on the significance of the event, the Director General of the Nigerian-German Chamber of Commerce, Marilyn Rapu, expressed her excitement about the strengthening business ties between Germany and Nigeria.
“I’m glad to see so many members of the Nigerian-German chamber of commerce here. It’s a testament to our growing partnership, and I hope this collaboration continues to flourish.”
With an impressive turnout and a strong international presence, Agrofood and Plasticprintpack Nigeria 2025 is proving to be a powerful catalyst for agricultural advancement, showcasing how global expertise can support Nigeria’s journey toward a more productive and sustainable agricultural sector.
